Zinc fume fever from melting and casting brass isn't really as bad as the article implies. It's unfortunate that the blacksmith died, but it was just as likely from some other fumes that effected his emphysema. Excess zinc is excreted rapidly through the kidneys since it occurs naturally in the body. I had zinc fume fever in my early twenties and it kept me up half the night with chills and sweats. I missed a half a day of work the next day, but due to a lack of sleep rather than any lingering effects of the metal. The real danger is to welders, and this comes more from cadmium associated with the zinc in plated metal. Another thing to avoid is beryllium which is worse than lead or cadmium since it attacks the lungs and can't be so readily chelated. Chrome and nickel are also bad, but are not found as alloys in metals the average person will be casting. They are instead associated with stainless steel and are the reason I don't grind the stuff.
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If you are casting brass or bronze, your best bet is to do it in a very well ventilated spot. I used to set up my foundry at the very door of the garage if there was any chance of precipitation. A better option is to move it outside as Saeth suggests. Since I started casting out doors I have never had a problem. It is also much less of a fire hazard.

Foundrymen talk of 'brass chills', and I have had them a couple of times. A quart of milk fixes it up pretty quickly.
The up side is that if you work brass, you are lots less likely to catch colds, as the bacteria do not think you taste very good.